SouthCoast5 Nominee: Timothy R. Souza

Tuesday

Apr 22, 2014 at 12:01 AM

Name: Timothy R. Souza

Name: Timothy R. Souza

Age: 33

Title: Mortgage Originator

Company: St. Anne's Credit Union

Educational degrees: B.S. in political science

Career highlights: My career in banking spans 10 years and has some twists and turns. From college I joined HSBC as an Account Executive, advancing to the level of District Manager for New England. I earned several awards including the Presidents Council, given to the top 3% in the nation for new revenue growth. In 2010 I left the impersonal world of corporate banking for the more individual connection and locality of St. Anne's Credit Union. Hired as a mortgage originator I'm able to utilize my vast experience to benefit my members at SACU. Through networking and community involvement I am proud to be a significant contributor to the growth of SACU's mortgage business in the New Bedford area.

Community service: I believe in playing an active role in the community. One way I realize this is by holding classes locally on financial literacy for Child and Family Services and first time home ownership through City of New Bedford Housing. I'm an active member of the New Bedford Fall River Housing Partnership, New Bedford Board of Realtor Affiliates and New Bedford Chamber. I particularly enjoy taking part in the Credit for Life fairs at the high schools and making that connection with the youth.

Who is the leader you most admire and why?

I didn't need to look beyond my own family to find a leader to admire; my grandfather Arthur Souza. Born to immigrant parents he graduated from New Bedford Vocational as a machinist. He worked at Rodney Metals in New Bedford for 40 years retiring as shop foreman. He raised his family in a house he built himself. No one did anything on that house but him. In his words "If they can do it, you can do it". This philosophy, much to my wife's chagrin, I live by. He taught himself to successfully invest in the stock market allowing him to retire comfortably. My grandfather was driven to exceed all expectations and lead by example. An example I follow day in and day out.

Describe your ideal SouthCoast

My ideal SouthCoast would be one that is multifaceted, self sufficient and constantly evolving. It's a SouthCoast that offers quality education in the growing fields of technology and health care in preparation for rewarding careers in those fields right here in the SouthCoast. This SouthCoast would offer the amenities and quality of life needed to keep people here to raise families and build their lives. A SouthCoast where people investing themselves in the community is more the norm than the exception.